Abstract: A method, a system and a device for encrypting an optical signal to be transmitted via an optical fiber communication link by causing controlled chromatic dispersion of said signal. The controllable decryption device, as well as the controllable decryption device, can be implemented in the form of a variable dispersion compensation module controlled by a decryption key. In the system, the encryption device and the decryption device are controlled in synchronism by an encryption key and a decryption key respectively, the keys preferably being functions of time symmetric with respect to the time axis.

Abstract: A method and a device for compensation of nonlinearity appearing in optical fiber links due to the positive Kerr effect created by optical fibers, the method comprises conveying an optical signal via one or more such compensating devices, each being capable of creating the negative Kerr effect for one or more optical wavelengths.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the alignment of optical interconnections between at least one optical data transmission point and at least one corresponding optical data receiving point. A collimated beam of data carrying light is polarized through an electrically-controlled light polarizer, such as a spatial light modulator or a liquid crystal, which comprises an array of pixels. A focused beam of the data-carrying light, emitted from the light polarizer, is obtained on the receiving point, by individually controlling the polarization of each pixel, and deflecting the direction of the collimated beam when emitted from the light polarizer, until a predetermined value of an electrical signal (current and/or voltage) representing the level of alignment is obtained. The collimated beam is further continuously and/or adaptively aligned by determining a desired current and a threshold current and/or voltage produced by an optical sensor at the receiving point.

Abstract: An optical wavelength converting apparatus for use with a light source providing a light beam having a wavelength &lgr;, the apparatus comprises an optical wavelength conversion module and a wavelength controller. The optical wavelength conversion module comprises at least two optical modulators each capable of being coupled to the light source and respectively capable of modulating the light beam to a first modulated light beam including a pair of channel having wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;i, and a second modulated light beam including a pair of channels having wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;j where &Dgr;&lgr;i≠&Dgr;&lgr;j,. The wavelength controller is adapted for switching the light beam to one of said at least two optical modulators for modulation to one of said modulated light beams having a pair of channels with wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;i or &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;j.

Abstract: A method is provided for routing optical data, which method comprises transmitting optical addressing data to a first network element having routing capabilities, assigning an appropriate optical link connecting the first network element with a second network element where the assignment is based on the optical addressing data, and transmitting the optical data via the assigned optical link.

Abstract: A technique for handling an optical pulse signal, wherein the handling includes one or more operations out of: pulse shaping, treatment of nonlinearity and monitoring; the technique uses a device capable of performing a cascaded second harmonic generation (SHG) with respect to a particular fundamental harmonic (FH), and comprises:

Abstract: A method and a device for compensation of nonlinearity appearing in optical fiber links due to the positive Kerr effect created by optical fibers, the method comprises conveying an optical signal via one or more such compensating devices, each being capable of creating the negative Kerr effect for one or more optical wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical switching apparatus in an optical communication network selectively combines and separates, using OTDM and/or WDM, optical signal samples that are obtained by a spread spectrum technique or a combination of optical signal samples that are obtained by a spread spectrum technique and optical signal samples that are carried over discrete channel wavelengths. In upstream communication, when optical signal samples that are received at the optical switching apparatus include upstream optical signal samples that are obtained by a spread spectrum technique, the optical switching apparatus optically converts the optical signal samples provided thereto into a broadband combined series of upstream optical signal samples and routes the broadband combined series of upstream optical signal samples to a destination route.

Abstract: An optical wavelength converting apparatus for use with a a light source providing a light beam having a wavelength &lgr;, the apparatus comprises an optical wavelength conversion module and a wavelength controller. The optical wavelength conversion module comprises at least two optical modulators each capable of being coupled to the light source and respectively capable of modulating the light beam to a first modulated light beam including a pair of channels having wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;i, and a second modulated light beam including a pair of channels having wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;j where &Dgr;&lgr;i≠&Dgr;&lgr;j. The wavelength controller is adapted for switching the light beam to one of said at least two optical modulators for modulation to one of said modulated light beams having a pair of channels with wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;i or &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;j.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for use with a light source providing a light beam having a wavelength &lgr;. The apparatus comprises at least one optical modulator adapted to modulate the light beam to a modulated light signal which comprises at least two additional spectral components, one of which at a wavelength of &lgr;+&Dgr;&lgr; and the other at a wavelength of &lgr;−&Dgr;&lgr;. The apparatus further comprises an optical splitting device adapted for coupling to the at least one optical modulator, for splitting the modulated light signal into at least two similar modulated light signals and at least two optical filters, each adapted to receive one of said at least two similar modulated light signals and to allow one of said at least two additional spectral components to egress therefrom.